NFL Crusaded Against Science – An investigative book claims that the NFL denied a growing number of scientific studies linking playing football and brain damage. As part of their effort to discredit publications demonstrating a link between the two, the league created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee in 1994. The studies published by the committee were controversial and included findings such as: concussions were minor injuries, concussions do not increase the risk of further injury, and football does not cause brain damage. Earlier this year, former NFL players sued the NFL over the fraudulent findings by the committee and received a $865 million settlement. (Don Van Natta Jr.)

NIH Trial Turns Away New Patients as Shutdown Obstructs Work of Scientists, Researchers – With 3/4 of NIH employees furloughed, new patients are unable to be enrolled in clinical trials. On average, 200 new patients enroll in trials each week, including 30 children being enrolled in cancer trials. As the government shutdown continues, those individuals’ health and well being are in danger. Additionally, other science agencies including the NSF, NASA, and DOE have either furloughed or have plans to furlough the majority of their employees. If the shutdown continues for an extended period of time, outside agencies and universities that receive federal government funding can be affected as well. (Joel Achenbach)

Vaccine Refusal Linked to California Pertussis Outbreak – In 2010, over 9000 individuals were infected with pertussis in California. Several causes of infections have been previously described, including decreased immunity years after receiving the vaccine. However, a new study published in “Pediatrics” indicated that populations that were largely intentionally unvaccinated also contributed to the outbreak. The study identified nearly 40 geographical clusters with an unusually high number of non-medical exemptions for the pertussis vaccine were more likely to have a pertussis outbreak than surrounding areas. (Michelle Healy)